Prince George RCMP officers were out with their bait-bike program on Wednesday and made several arrests within a two-hour period.
Frontline officers arrested a Prince George man after one of the detachment’s bait bikes was stolen just four minutes after it was deployed. The suspect was held in custody overnight and attended court the next day. Orlando James Egnell, 31, has been charged with theft under $5,000. He has been released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5.
Approximately an hour after the initial deployment, officers arrested a 49-year-old Prince George man following another theft of the bait bike. The bike was also stolen within minutes of being deployed. The suspect was released on a promise to appear for a future court date. A report has not yet been forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service for review.
Only a few minutes after the second arrest, frontline officers redeployed the bait bike in the same area. Once again, the bike was stolen a short time after being deployed. This time, a 30-year-old Prince George man was arrested in possession of the bike. The suspect was released on a promise to appear for court on July 3.
The Prince George RCMP will continue to target bike thieves through this program and other enforcement tactics. Specifics about the bait bike, where it was deployed and other details will not be released.
In most stolen bike cases, owners do not know the serial number of the bike or do not have it readily available, decreasing the chance of getting the bike back to almost zero. Even if the bike is recovered, owners need to show that the bike is theirs. The best way to do this, is to provide a serial number.
Three things that every bike owner SHOULD do:
- Register your bike with a program such as the 529 Garage App (www.project529.com). Essential information like make, model, serial number and photos are recorded and accessible on any internet device. 529 Garage Registration events;
- Always use a high quality lock designed for bicycles.The extra expense is worth it. Avoid cables and inexpensive locks, as they can be defeated easily and quickly;
- Report bike thefts right away.Many thefts are never reported to police, giving officers no chance of arresting someone in possession of it. Even if the bike isn’t worth much to you, reporting it could help arrest a thief.
If you have any information about bike theft in Prince George, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca (English only). You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest or recovery of stolen property, you could be eligible for a cash reward.